Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Oct. 11-13 Russian Energy Week International Forum yesterday which brought together 4,000 representatives of the Russian and international energy sector. The plenary session was also keynoted by Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Muhammed Shia Al Sudani who was the first Arab head of government to attend this annual forum.
On the European Union’s energy policy he pointed to Germany’s foolish behavior on Nord Stream 2, saying Russia could supply Germany with 27.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually through the remaining branch of Nord Stream 2, but Germany would rather pay more for gas from other countries. “I believe that this is an economically foolish behavior. It’s like they are intentionally undermining the German economy. I just don’t understand why gas can be supplied to Germany through the territory of Ukraine, but they think it’s impossible to do via Nord Stream 2. Why can’t they offer Poland to open the Yamal-Europe [gas pipeline]? I just don’t understand it,” Putin argued.
He added that it is Europe that refuses to buy Russian gas while Russia is perfectly willing to sell it. He pointed to the fact that Europeans will continue to buy expensive LNG from the United States at the detriment of their own economies.
